JPH04123280A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically execute the ON/OFF control of a projection part/ laser light source by arranging a proximity sensor for measuring a distance from a bar code and starting the reading of the bar code based upon information outputted from the sensor. CONSTITUTION:The proximity sensor 7 is arranged in the front of a body so as to receive reflected light from a target 6 to be detected by a photodetecting part 10 arranged in the range of a distance (d) from the sensor face. When a distance from the sensor 7 up to the target 6 becomes shorter than the value (d), a signal processing circuit 11 outputs a detection signal and a microprocessor (MPU) 4 commands o turn on the projection part/laser light source 1 to irradiate the target with laser beams. The reflected light from the target 6 is photodetected by a photodetecting part 3 and converted into an electric signal, the MPU 4 processes the fetched inputted electric signal, decodes the signal as bar code information, and when the decoded result is OK, the MPU 4 turns off the laser light source 1. Thus, the ON/OFF control of the projection part/laser light source 1 can be automatically executed and working efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a barcode reader used in POS, logistics, production management, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for handheld barcode readers that scan barcodes using laser light.

Conventionally, this type of barcode reader has a light emitting section/laser light source 1, a mirror 2, a light receiving section 3, a decoder section 4, and a light emitting section/laser light source 1. -OF
It consists of a switch 5 that performs F.

In the above configuration, when the switch 5 is pressed, a laser beam is irradiated from the light projector/laser light source 1, reflected by the mirror 2, and scanned over the detected object e. The light receiving section 3 receives the reflected light from the object e to be detected and converts it into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal is taken into the decoder section 4 and decoded as barcode information, and at the same time, the light projecting section/laser light source 1 is turned off. If reading cannot be performed, the light projector/laser light source 1 is automatically turned off.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such conventional barcode readers, the switch 6 must be pressed every time a barcode is read, which is a complication. In addition, the movable parts such as switch 6L:l are
Failures could also occur due to faulty contacts.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to automatically perform ON-OFF control of the light projector/laser light source 1.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a light source that irradiates a laser beam toward the barcode, a mirror that scans the laser beam on the barcode, and a mirror that scans the laser beam on the barcode. A light receiving section that receives light and converts it into an electrical signal, a microprocessor that takes in the electrical signal converted by the light receiving section and decodes the barcode information, a proximity sensor that measures the distance between the barcode, a light source, a mirror, a light receiving section, and a microprocessor that takes in the electrical signal converted by the light receiving section and deciphers the barcode information. It is equipped with a processor and a battery power source that drives the proximity sensor, and starts reading barcodes based on information from the proximity sensor.

Operation According to the above-described configuration, the present invention automatically performs ON-OFF control of the light projector/laser light source 1 using the proximity sensor, thereby eliminating the need for a switch operation at the time of starting barcode reading.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a mirror 2 is arranged to scan the laser beam irradiated from the light projecting part/laser light source 1, and a light receiving part 3 is provided to receive the reflected light from the object to be detected 6. .

The mirror 2 of this embodiment linearly scans at a rate of 40 times/second. A proximity sensor T is attached to the front of the main body so as not to interfere with scanning and light reception. 4 is a microprocessor, and 8 is a battery power source. In this embodiment, an optical proximity sensor is used as the proximity sensor 7.

FIG. 2 shows a complete diagram of the configuration of the optical proximity sensor used in this example. In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes a light projector that irradiates light onto objects to be detected.
t Emitting Diode), 1o is a light receiving part that receives the light from the light emitting part e reflected by the object to be detected 6, and -dimensional PSD (PositionSena)
tive Detector). 11 is a signal processing circuit that processes the signal of the light receiving section 10 and outputs a signal when proximity is detected. Since the light receiving section 1o is arranged so that the light reflected from the object 6 can be received within the distance d from the sensor surface, the proximity of the object 6 can be detected.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be explained using the figure. When the distance from the proximity sensor 7 to the detected object 6t becomes shorter than d, the signal processing circuit 1
A detection signal is output to the 1-bit or 8-bit microprocessor 4 (processing a).

The microprocessor 4 instructs the light projection unit/laser light source 1 to be turned on, and laser light is irradiated (process A).

The irradiated light is reflected by the mirror 2 and hits the detected object 8.
irradiated upwards. By periodically changing the reflection angle of the mirror 2, the laser beam scans (processes) the object to be detected 6. The reflected light from the object to be detected 6 is received by the light receiving section 3,
It is converted into an electrical signal and taken into the microprocessor 4 (processing).

The microprocessor 4 processes the received electrical signal and decodes it as barcode information (processing O).

If the decoding is OK, the microprocessor 4 turns off the light projector/laser light source 1 (processing o, o).

If the barcode information cannot be decoded, continue processing for a specified period of time (processing power) until the barcode information is successfully decoded.

Repeat o. If reading cannot be performed for a predetermined period of time, the microprocessor 4 turns off the light projector/laser light source 1 (processing power, K). Thereafter, when the distance from the proximity sensor 7 to the detected object 6 becomes greater than d, the series of processing flows is completed (processing). In this example, wavelength λ=677
A nm semiconductor laser is irradiated onto the standard AN code, and the reflected light on the JAN code is reflected at a distance d = 25 from the sensor surface.
It is possible to receive light within the CM range.

As described above, according to the barcode reader of the embodiment of the present invention, the proximity sensor is provided, and the 0N-
The OFF control was automatically performed without using a conventional manual switch.
00 m5ec was reduced to 250 m5ec, improving work efficiency by 17%.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, ON-OFF control of the light projecting unit and laser light source is automatically performed using a proximity sensor without using a manual switch, thereby improving work efficiency. It is possible to provide a barcode reader that eliminates the need for a manual switch that causes failure due to contact defects, eliminates the ON/OFF operation of the switch by fingers, and reduces the feeling of fatigue in the fingers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of a barcode reader according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the same proximity sensor, and Fig. 3 is a light projecting unit/laser by a microprocessor using the same proximity sensor. A flowchart showing ON-OFF control of the light source, and FIG. 4 is an internal configuration diagram of a conventional barcode reader. 1...Light emitter/laser light source, 2...Mirror, 3...Light receiving unit, 4...Microprocessor, 6... Barcode, 7...
- Proximity sensor, 8...Battery power supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A light source that irradiates a laser beam toward the barcode, a mirror that scans the laser beam onto the barcode, a light receiving section that receives reflected light on the barcode and converts it into an electrical signal, and the light receiving section. A microprocessor that takes in the converted electrical signal and decodes the barcode information, a proximity sensor that measures the distance to the barcode, the light source, the mirror, the light receiving section, the microprocessor, and the proximity sensor. A barcode reader comprising a battery power source for driving the barcode reader, and starts reading a barcode based on information from the proximity sensor.